In game one of the series versus Illinois Springfield, Upper Iowa held a 7-3 advantage going into the bottom of the third inning, but came up short in an 8-7 decision by the end of the contest. The Prairie Stars rattled off four runs in the bottom of the third frame to tie up the game 7-7.  
 
Neither squad scored until the eighth inning as UIS knocked a home run and held their slim lead for the remainder of the game. 
 
Ethan Sawyer led the Peacocks at the plate with three hits while Chase Chappel recorded a team-high four RBIs. 
 
The Prairie Stars scored two runs in the first inning after belting a home run over the right field fence. 
 
The Peacocks responded with a Chappel grand slam in the top of the second frame to jump out to a 4-2 lead. He batted in Gunnar Wicklund and Bryce Hall who dished out singles, and Brock Zimmer who got on base with a double. 
 
UIS brought one more around the bases in the bottom of the second to only trail by one run (4-3). 
 
The Peacocks added three runs in the third inning to stretch their advantage to 7-3. Springfield came up to bat and knocked in four runs of their own to tie the game up at 7-7. 
 
Neither team scored until the eighth inning when UIS bombed a home run over the right field fence to lead 8-7, which held for the remainder of the contest. 
 
Marcus Champagne (0-2) threw for 4.2 innings, allowing three hits and one earned run. Isaiah Maes started on the mound for the Peacocks, surrendering nine hits and seven earned runs after 3.1 innings. 
 
Upper Iowa will return to action in Springfield, Ill. tomorrow at 12 p.m.